Finally Some Time

Finally found some time.  Life has been catching up to me.  For several weeks my small son T.M. was extremely sick.  We spent several days in a pediatric unit and have been going back and forth to the local hospital for tests.

Then, spring work started.  So, it was bust your but to get as much done in a four day work week, at the town job, then off to work the fun job.

The fun job includes- pairing out cows and calves to a different field, doctoring sick animals, and tagging calves. 

Also, it is branding season. I have mentioned how much I adore branding season.  Good friends, good times, roping, and socializing after a long winter of being holed up.

We also teach leathercraft for the local 4-H group.  This weekend is their big show.  Wish the kids luck.

Branding

In our family we have six seasons... The normal four with branding and hunting added on. Branding season marks the "end" of winter and the beginning of summer. Hunting the end of summer and the beginning of winter. We had to schedule our wedding around these dates. Since moving to California hunting season has gone by the wayside but branding is still a family favorite.

It maybe arachiac in the realm of being old-fashioned but so is using the USPS and I still send letters. Branding is essential to permanently prove ownership on cattle. It prevents thefts and adds traceability to the product.

Branding is a way of life here in the west. One I hope my grandkids enjoy with as much fervor as my kids are.

Branding

Some call it cruel; others, archaic but branding is a necessary function if you own cattle. Yes, we can put ear tags in but they are not permanent. Ear tags can be cut out, fall out, or be altered, etc. Only branding is a permanent nearly no-fail way to prove ownership. Even in 2007 when there was cases of BSE in the US, they traced the animals back to their home places through brand records within 48 hours.

If the animals had tags would it have been quicker than 48 hours-- Maybe? Producers put in ear tags, feed lots take out ear tags, slaughter houses remove them. So, would the information have been transfered? Brand inspections are currently required by law in most states, thus the paper work tracks brands. Leaving a physical paper trail; not an electronic one.

I have lost a lot more information when my computer went bust than I ever have hard copies of data needed. Just sayin.

Hot Iron Branding

I have been remiss about posting lately. I have been partcipating in an age old tradition of hot iron branding calves. It is just as necessary now as it was 100 years ago. A form of identification, that is permanent. Very much unlike, ear tags, tatoos, and freeze irons, a hot iron brand is difficult to alter. The hot iron brand has been a source of much debate, lately. Many believe it is unnecessary but those people do not make their livlihood off of the livestock that can easily be stolen off of thousands of acres with few people. It is especially pertinent with cattle prices being high and the economy being in the dumps. Just last month I recieved an e-mail about several hundred head of calves being stolen off of private range. The take the young calves before they can be branded and sell them. In addition to the actually branding portion, young animals are given their vaccination and castrated, among other things. It is also a social event, teaching the young the traditions and a gathering after a long winter.